Sparked by the story of 17-year-old Sarah Boltuck, a Maryland teenager
on the verge
of losing her right to vote in the 2008 primary elections, FairVote
worked closely with state allies like Sen. Jamie Raskin in winning a
dramatic reversal to protect youth voting rights. All 17-year-old
citizens who will 18 by Election Day in November 2008 will be able to
vote in Maryland's Feb. 12 primary -- a ruling affecting thousands
of voters. FairVote is launching a campaign with other civic groups and
the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals to notify
eligible
students of the registration deadline in the spirit of our vision of
universal voter registration.

Written
at the request of Senator Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery County), the
Attorney General released an opinion today that accepts the Maryland
Democratic and Republican parties' argument that the state regulations
of party primary elections must conform to internal party rules.The
opinion could lead to restoration of voting rights for 17-year-olds in
primaries who will be 18 before the general election.

Both
parties have recently endorsed 17-year-old primary voting, putting
pressure on the State Board of Elections to reverse itself and restore
voting rights to young people.

The State Board of Elections is set to take up the issue
Thursday at their scheduled meeting at 2:30 p.m. in Annapolis, where
FairVote representative Adam Fogel will submit a letter from a
coalition of Maryland organizations urging the State Board of Elections
to accept the Attorney General's advisory opinion. Coalition members
include FairVote, Casa de Maryland and the Maryland League of Women
Voters.

"Attorney General Gansler's opinion corrects a serious mistake
that was about to keep thousands of young people from voting on
February 12th. I hope they not only reverse their policy, but do some
damage control. Young people need to be notified that they're back on
the rolls." said Mr. Fogel.

The confusion over the new voting rule has led to dismal voter
registration among 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the
general election. According to Ross Goldstein, Deputy Administrator for
the Board of Elections, only 3,600 of these young people have
registered to vote.

FairVote will partner with the Maryland Association of
Secondary School Principals (MDASSP) to ensure students in high schools
across the state have an opportunity to register to vote before the
January 22nd voter registration deadline.

"Most Californians register to vote not because a political cause has touched their heart, but rather because they checked a box on a form at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they received or renewed their driverís license."